Hearing on Pompey's future delayed (From Daily Echo)

Hearing on Pompey's future delayed

2:14pm Thursday 13th December 2012 in Football League

Hearing on Pompey's future delayed

Accountants managing the affairs of troubled football club Portsmouth have said they are assessing options after a High Court hearing relating to a planned takeover by a group of supporters was postponed.

Portsmouth - struggling near the foot of League One - was placed into administration in February and a High Court judge was today expected to hear details of a problem concerning the club's Fratton Park stadium.

But the hearing was adjourned after lawyers representing the firm of accountants acting as Portsmouth's administrators said discussions were taking place with representatives of the club's former owner, Balram Chainrai.

Katharine Holland QC, for administrators PKF, told Mr Justice Sales at the hearing in London: ''This is not a straightforward matter.''

Outside court, a PKF spokesman added: ''We are taking stock and assessing options.''

Lawyers are expected to update Mr Justice Sales at a hearing tomorrow.

A group called the Pompey Supporters' Trust has put forward a takeover proposal which Football League bosses say has ''merit''.

But league bosses say outstanding issues - including a problem about the ownership of Fratton Park being considered by the High Court - have to be resolved before the trust's bid can be fully considered.

A High Court judge placed Portsmouth into administration 10 months ago after being told that the club had an unpaid tax bill of around £2 million and owed other creditors about the same.